This game sounds....

[Bongo-Bongo]

I would reccomend downloading the demo before buying the game, as you should do with most games. If you like it, I'd suggest waiting for the pacth before buying the game though.

Whilst I enjoy playing Civ4, I personally preffered Civ3, which I have re-installed and am currently playing instead. I feel that too many bugs are spoiling the game at the moment, and stupid things such as archers beating infantry are just frustrating. I probably wont play again until the patch is released.

 

[FuzzyWeasel]

I would say the game is worth buying if a few things are true. First... make sure you have at a minimum 1/2 gig of memory. Gig is definitely better. Also, make sure your video card is up to snuff. Ignore the "required/recommended" hardware as advertised by Firaxis.

Also... please keep in mind who you are listening to on these boards. There are some serious CIV fanatics who have been around a while... and then there are a slew of new users who bought the game, had serious issues... and a) wanted to whine about it and found this site or b) were searching for help/fixes and found this site. Do you think that people that got the game, had no problems, and are loving it are likely to be here at this site? No, they are spending every waking red-eyed hour playing. I am here because I was in the "ATI Graphics card issue" group and was searching for help. There were a ton of people that bought the game from Amazon.com and Amazon screwed them. They didn't deliver. These are hardcore civvers who wanted to the game yesterday... they ordered the game on the promise of getting it the day it came out. They had to wait a VERY long time (weeks?) before receiving it... and this really pissed those folks off.

In a place like this you always here the most emotional 5% of the audience. Be it for or against. Even in this place the polls show that most people here are working with no problems. I would wager the game works ok for the vast majority of the people who got it.

As far as the game itself... it's quite fun. There are some issues as you've read... most of them are being addressed. There is already a patch (pre) released and will be available well before Christmas. There may even be another one before then.

I would say that if the game idea appeals to you and you have a decent computer... go for it.

-Weasel